Writing Homework Help

Students are asked to write an essay of (1500 – 2000) words that engages in a succinct but comprehensive analysis of a particular contemporary (or historical) issue or trend in news and journalism. Students are asked to select one of the questions below, and in their answer to the question to assess the strengths and weaknesses of relevant approaches, debates and theories about news and journalism in the context of changing social, cultural, economic and political structures.

This assessment will allow students to familiarise themselves with some relevant theories addressed in the module and to develop a critical understanding of key processes of news and journalism. For all answers, please substantiate your approach and argument by a) critically engaging with academic research and debates in the field of journalism studies, and b) drawing on relevant academic literature in framing your assignment

.Answer ONE of the following questions:

1. How useful is the concept of ‘gatekeeping’ for an understanding of the selection and wider impact of news today?

2. How useful is the concept of ‘agenda setting’ for an understanding of the selection and wider impact of news today?

3. Is it possible for news to be objective? Assess the key debates and draw on research in journalism studies to support your claims.

4. What is fake news? Draw on academic research, concepts, and debates in journalism studies to support your answer.

5. How is social media impacting on news production?

6. In what ways is digital journalism changing journalistic practices?

7. Has digital media changed ‘news’ content?

8. What is ‘citizen journalism’? How is it influencing the collection and content of news?

9. What constraints are placed on war correspondents and with what effects on news content

10. What does Baudrillard mean by ‘hyperreality’ and how does his approach contribute to an understanding of the reporting of the Gulf War?

GUIDANCE NOTES FOR THIS TASK

The key elements of a good essay are the following:The essay should demonstrate a thorough understand of relevant academic literature in the field related to your chosen essay question. The essay is an academic piece of work. You are therefore asked to research it by consulting academic books and journals. Recommended reading for this subject area is listed in the Module handbook and under relevant weekly lecture slides. Start by reading:Begin by conducting relevant and focused reading.Take notes:For notes to develop your understanding of an area:Put points into your own words — your notes then make more sense to you and are easier to use for writing.

Select information relevant to your purpose(s) — information ranging (a) from helping you to understand the material for its own sake to (b) various forms of talk/writing preparation.Write down the author/speaker and source of reference for any notes that you take.Structure the sources to highlight main and subsidiary ideas/evidence and links between them.Organize your material for your flexibility — so that you can use your notes right now but also come back to them later.Then prepare a working outline of your essay before you start writing: Begin by writing a one-page plan. Ensure you plan the essay so that you answer the question: the most important objective of the assignment.

The essay should: Show evidence of a clear understanding of the relevant academic literature that addresses and answers the question.  Show evidence of a comprehensive understanding of relevant concepts and theories related to the essay question’s topic and apply them to explain the problem or issue addressed in the question. Establish an argument (a line of reasoning) through its focus and engagement with academic evidence, i.e., it should put forward (a) an idea or set of ideas to be explored and discussed and (b) claims to be demonstrated by academic evidence. Your own opinions and argument(s) should be well informed & carefully supported by evidence of your understanding of the relevant academic literature in the field

Format:Ensure that you sign the cover sheet with your name, student number, and declaration that it is your own work.Place the essay question at the start of the assignment (Title:the essay question is your title).Use double spacing or 11⁄2 spacing and ensure a margin on either side.It is advisable to divide the essay into 3-6 subheadings to help structure the essay, for example: Introduction, Conclusion, and subtitle(s) of relevant key themes in between.Please note that the quality of referencing, and the range and diversity of your bibliography will be a key factor in the mark achieved (see module and degree programme handbook on Harvard system used).Proofread the assignment carefully and reduce word length to conform to the word length asked for: ensure that everything written in the essay is aligned to answering the question. Otherwise, leave out.NB. Remember that the standard margin for word lengths is 5% under or over so please state if this does not apply to this assessment.

Essay Plan Guidance:The essay should contain the following components:

1. Introduction: State your aims and objectives:– State how you intend to answer the question; – Mention the key theories or debates to be addressed;– Explain how the essay is structured;– This section usually comprises 1 paragraph.2. Present the main points of your argument:–

The main body of the essay should be divided into well organized, coherent and unified paragraphs. – Under each of these points, a brief reference to the evidence, examples and supporting material that will be included to support it.– Address the main approaches, perspectives, relevant concepts and theories related to the question that help to identify the key problems, themes and issues to be addressed.– This section is a very important section that outlines the subject matter, relevant problems and issues. It is a section that demonstrates clearly your understanding of the subject matter, your understanding of the relevant debates in the field and any appropriate concepts and theories.– You can use subheadings if you wish, to direct your points.– Guide your reader rather than making them try to ponder why you have included particular material in your answer. Instead, explain to the reader so they know why you have included the information (and explain in relation to the essay question).– Ensure sections, and paragraphs are sequenced well by developing a series of links between them.

Conclusion– State what you have achieved, by summarising the key points made in your essay (you may have between 2-5 points).– State clearly how you have answered the question.– State clearly what approaches and perspectives you have engaged with, and how you have used the work of key authors in doing so (and if any empirical data has been drawn on, then how this has been drawn on); what you have either proved or disproved and/or what you have raised as further questions and issues.– Overall: identify the authors or theories and perspectives you agree with or disagree with, state the outcome and the implications for this question. – Finally, make sure you have addressed and answered the question!For further helpful tips on essay writing also see: The University’s Writing Development Centre at: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/library/resources-and-study-support/writing-development-centre/